"So, in the end, it still turned out like this, didn't it?"
Yoshino looked at the Muse members who were spreading sheets in the living room, feeling a bit helpless.
She had managed to avoid showering with them earlier, but it seemed sleeping together was unavoidable.
"But what's the situation now?"
Yoshino felt herself being held tightly by the trio of Umi, Honoka, and Kotori, able to smell their fragrance, and the soft feeling of their bodies made her heart pound.
Umi had never embraced her so proactively; why was she so unusual today?
Not wanting anyone to see her blushing, Yoshino covered her small face with her hands.
These three were not only hugging her but also sniffing her scent. Kousaka Honoka, for instance, had become a 'pervert Honoka'.
"Yoshino smells so good, even though she hasn't put anything on..."
Will I not be able to hug her soon? I really don't want to let go. Kousaka Honoka thought.
She really didn't want Yoshino to leave. Not even for a short while.
"Yes, it's really comfortable holding Yoshino like this."
I don't want Yoshino to leave. Minami Kotori thought with a touch of sadness.
But I can't trouble Yoshino.
Toujou Nozomi had already told everyone not to trouble Yoshino.
"Even I occasionally want to give Yoshino a good hug. After all, she's Muse's mascot."
Sonoda Umi tightened her embrace on Yoshino. Even though she was usually a very serious person in front of everyone, her heart was also very fragile.
All nine Muse members looked at Yoshino with a touch of sadness.
Yoshino's heart was pure, but Shiina was a seasoned veteran with a shrewd mind!
'It seems they all know now?'
Shiina looked at Toujou Nozomi, who had her hands clasped together, looking at Shiina with an apologetic expression.
If Sonoda Umi and Ayase Eli hadn't stopped Kousaka Honoka and Hoshizora Rin, who wanted to run out naked to ask Yoshino why she was leaving during their shower, things would have been very awkward.
'You're making things difficult for me, Toujou Nozomi.'
Shiina looked at Toujou Nozomi unhappily. Wasn't this deliberately causing trouble?
'But we had no choice! Eri-ri figured it out. And we already promised not to hide anything from everyone, so I had to tell them.' Toujou Nozomi implied it wasn't her fault, but Ayase Eli's assertiveness.
She avoided looking at Shiina with a guilty conscience. It really was her problem, but she wouldn't admit it.
'It would be strange if you couldn't be assertive with Eli, Nozomi.'
Yazawa Nico's voice suddenly entered the conversation. Toujou Nozomi looked at her in surprise. Why could Yazawa Nico enter her mental conversation with Shiina? Could it be?
'You're right, Nozomi. Yoshino already told me when we were cooking together earlier. She also signed a contract with me.'
She looked at Toujou Nozomi with a hint of triumph. That girl had always bullied her during exam study sessions, and now she could finally fight back.
'I miscalculated. I forgot that Nico, you are also a thoughtful person, so it's not surprising that you noticed Yoshino has been acting strange lately. This time, you win.' Toujou Nozomi admitted she lost this round.
"Everyone, don't sleep so late tonight! Let's have a pillow fight!"
With that, Kousaka Honoka picked up a pillow and threw it at Nishikino Maki, who had been secretly watching Yoshino.
"Hey! You, why did you hit me!"
She grabbed a pillow and threw it back at Kousaka Honoka, but Honoka dodged it nimbly, and it hit Hoshizora Rin instead.
Excitement flashed in Hoshizora Rin's eyes.
"Rin wants to join too!" She said, then began attacking indiscriminately, without distinguishing between friend and foe. The scene instantly became chaotic.
"It seems a bit dangerous, Yoshino. Do you want to join in?"
Watching the pillows constantly flying past, Shiina looked at Yoshino, eager to try.
"Shiina, do you think I can win?"
Frantically dodging the pillows that occasionally flew towards her, without using her spiritual power, the pillows Yoshino threw, when they hit someone's face, were only soft and lacked any force.
"Ah~ You're right. Then let's just keep dodging."
She imagined Yoshino and everyone rampaging through the battlefield in her mind, but decided against it. It wasn't realistic or scientific.
Ah~ Excuse me, many things can't be explained by science these days.
"Everyone, Yoshino is hiding over there. Don't let Yoshino hide on the side, let's all go!"
After saying that, she threw a pillow at Yoshino. Everyone hesitated for a moment, then threw pillows at Yoshino with very little force.
"Kya!" With a cute shriek, Yoshino covered her head and crouched down defensively. The pillows flew over Yoshino's head.
"Uh..." Looking at Yoshino crouching with her head covered, everyone exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.
'When did Yoshino learn that move?'
Isn't that the dignified young lady's signature move? Why do you know that one?
Shiina's mind went over the explanation for this move: it can instantly erase all hostility in the hearts of enemies and turn them into allies of the user. This was the most terrifying aspect of this move.
"Hehehehe~ You're really too cute, Yoshino. Why are you so adorable?"
Ayase Eli picked up Yoshino and gently stroked her head, her affection for Yoshino's cuteness increasing even more.
"Yes, so cute, meow! I'm so envious of Nozomi, who gets to hug Yoshino to sleep every night."
Hoshizora Rin looked at Yoshino with sparkling eyes. She also wanted to hug such a cute adorable creature to sleep every night.
"Oh my, Rin, are you trying to snatch Yoshino from me?"
With her arms crossed, she looked at Hoshizora Rin with a half-smile. Do you want to fight?
"Uh... That's not right! For Yoshino, even if it's Nozomi, Rin won't back down, meow!"
Hoshizora Rin declared that she would not retreat.
"Right, you can't monopolize Yoshino. I want to hug Yoshino to sleep tonight!"
Kousaka Honoka snatched Yoshino from Ayase Eli's hands, retreating behind Sonoda Umi and Minami Kotori, watching the first-year and third-year groups warily.
This was a war!
"We won't agree!" The first-year group, represented by Hoshizora Rin, stepped forward.
"We won't agree either!" The third-year group, represented by Ayase Eli, stepped forward.
The three groups stood on different opposing sides with the same objective, fierce flames burning behind them.
'Is no one going to ask for my opinion?'
A bewildered Yoshino thought to herself, but it was destined that no one would pay her any mind.
Now, let our war (squabble) begin.
-----------------------
To read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can follow and support me on Patreon.
I'll be posting early chapters there so you can always stay ahead and never miss any new content.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"